2020 University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center Annual Report

Purpose, Passion & Persistence 2020 ANNUAL REPORT 2020 was a challenging year for most, requiring the whole world to adapt and evolve.

But because cancer doesn’t stop, our physician scientists didn’t stop either.

With purpose, passion and persistence, members of the Comprehensive Cancer Center weathered a pandemic to continue their important mission to reduce cancer’s devastating impact on patient lives.

Dedicated to Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine and director for the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, for her leadership and commitment to cancer research excellence.

Letter from the Director

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world on its head in 2020.

Although it may not have been the year anyone anticipated, the team of researchers and physicians at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center rose to the challenge and quickly shifted their focus to do what was needed.

They wasted no time forming collaborations and working together to solve problems brought on by the pandemic. Physicians continued to provide exceptional care to cancer patients, keeping in close communication virtually or by phone when in-person visits were not possible.

Research labs found ways to safely continue their research while keeping team members safe.

In addition, our community outreach team helped those most vulnerable get the resources they needed while they couldn’t leave home. At the same time, our cancer education team ensured that aspiring young students could explore cancer research careers in creative new ways.

The past year has been tough, but we have shown time and again that together, we’re tougher. We are able to persist under challenging circumstances because we believe

in our mission of helping to reduce cancer’s devastating impact on people’s lives. That mission has not changed.

When I took over as director for the Cancer Center in 2004, I saw so much potential to make an impact on cancer research and care. And I am proud of what we’ve accomplished.

We have earned the highest designations from the National Cancer Institute in our Center’s history for the past 16 years, making ours one of the top centers in the nation. We have a practice-changing clinical trials program developing personalized approaches to cancer treatment that can improve quality of life and minimize side effects. We have taken on ambitious challenges, recruited talented investigators and moved the field forward.

Last but not least, I want to thank all of our supporters for their unwavering commitment to cancer research. Your generosity truly makes paradigm-shifting new cancer research possible and brings us closer to achieving our shared goals.

With deep gratitude,

Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine; Director, University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center

But we cannot stop now. There is so much more work to be done. We remain resolute in our commitment to conducting life-saving research.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve in the leadership role for a world-renowned and innovative cancer care and research community that is passionate, filled with purpose and persistent through difficult times.

1

Research

Our more than 150 world-class scientists and clinicians share a common commitment to conduct innovative cancer research, leverage the power of teamwork and translate fundamental scientific discoveries to the patient’s bedside. These members of the Comprehensive Cancer Center are grouped into one of four research programs, each one focused on promising research paths.

MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF CANCER

A key development in understanding cytotoxic therapy-related myeloid neoplasms reveals new therapeutic targets

The Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program focuses on determining the basic cell signaling and gene expression mechanisms that underlie malignancy. The program brings together basic and translational investigators.

Therapy-related myeloid neoplasms (t-MN) are a complication of cytotoxic therapies, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Cytotoxic therapy, which can be used to battle cancer, unfortunately can also promote the expansion of hematopoietic, or blood, cells that have genetic mutations, and can lead to the development of blood cell cancers such as t-MN. These therapy-related cancers have complex karyotypes and distinct chromosomal deletions.

Recent advances in the understanding of t-MN from the lab of Michelle Le Beau, PhD, Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine, with Comprehensive Cancer Center collaborators, challenges the long-standing view that cytotoxic therapy only impacts blood cells.

The investigation utilized a novel mouse model that replicates key genetic characteristics of t-MN and revealed a paradigm-shifting role for the stroma in carcinogenesis. The data showed that cytotoxic therapyinduced changes to stromal cells contribute to the development of t-MN. The conclusions suggest that the bone marrow microenvironment contributes directly to blood cell carcinogenesis and is a potential novel therapeutic target.

Burkitt’s lymphoma cells

STODDART ET AL., BLOOD CANCER DISCOV 129(22):2959-70, 2020

2

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

A new class of PET radiotracer can visualize cellular function Recent advancements in nuclear medicine include the creation and testing of a first-in-class, activity-based PET radiotracer.

This accomplishment required the combined expertise of a medical physicist, a biological chemist and a team of researchers working in the UChicago Cyclotron Facility.

Ray Moellering, PhD, associate professor of chemistry, and Chin-Tu Chen, PhD, associate professor of radiology, developed and tested this novel radiotracer that can specifically label aggressive cancer cells of breast cancer tumors in whole-body imaging in live animals. This new approach combines the technology of PET imaging with a novel biochemical method in radiopharmacology. The radiotracer works by detecting activity of an enzyme, allowing for the direct visualization of an active enzyme that is present in aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. In addition to the ability of imaging aggressive tumors, they discovered that enzyme activity was increased in the leading edge of the tumors where growth and metastasis occur. Similar results were seen in a prostate cancer model. This class of radiotracer has the potential to revolutionize cancer imaging.

CHANG ET AL., ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE INT 59,15161-65, 2020

In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has revolutionized the way we treat some kinds of cancer.

I M M U N O LO GY AND CANCER

A newly characterized immune cell subset may be key to immunotherapy response

The overall goals of the Immunology and Cancer Program are to understand the interaction between the host immune system and malignant tumors, and to manipulate that interaction to promote immunemediated tumor destruction in patients with cancer. In recent years, tumor immunotherapy has revolutionized the way we treat some kinds of cancer.

Immunotherapies can be effective treatments but have shown a limited benefit in many types of cancer.

Peter Savage, PhD, associate professor of pathology, has characterized a subset of T cells that may play a key role in the response to immunotherapy. These immune cells, called memory-phenotype CD8+ T cells (CD8-MP cells), recognize nonmutated “self” ligands, differentiate prior to cancer development and are ready for mobilization into an active immune response against cancer cells. Savage’s team showed that CD8-MP cells are readily recruited into tumors in animal models, and express high amounts of the PD-1 molecule, a T-cell-expressed inhibitory receptor that is commonly targeted in immunotherapy. Further investigations are expected to reveal the ability of these cells to respond to immunotherapy and attack cancer cells. This small but mighty subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8-MP cells may be the key to unlocking the potential of checkpoint inhibition immunotherapy in prostate cancer and other tumor types that have been unresponsive previously.

These therapies, however, are not effective for all tumor types or all patients. Advances in our understanding of the cellular mechanisms by which the immune system fails to spontaneously reject cancer from a more global perspective will allow for innovations in immune-based therapies as well as optimization of current strategies.

Melanoma progression following immunotherapy due to intratumor heterogeneity and clonal cooperation Immune checkpoint inhibition with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade remains a powerful yet limited tool, as many cancers relapse after an initial regression following this type of therapy. It is critical to uncover mechanisms of resistance in order to improve the response and prevent the recurrence of cancers. In this study, Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, AbbVie Foundation Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy, performed a genome-wide CRISPR screen to hunt for genes that make melanoma cells sensitive to T cell-mediated killing. They found that defective interferon (IFN)-γ signaling correlated with decreased PD-1 expression by the mutant cancer cells, and that clonal cooperation between mutated and normal cancer cells allowed for the survival and outgrowth of tumors following PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Their results demonstrated that intratumor heterogeneity allows clonal cooperation that can impart immunotherapy resistance.

WILLIAMS ET AL., NAT COMMUN 11(1):602, 2020

MILLER ET AL., NAT IMMUNOL 21:567-77, 2020

Slides containing histological tissue samples

3

Research

Progress in multiple myeloma treatment: stem cell transplant improves the standard regimen

CLINICAL AND E X P E R I M E N TA L THERAPEUTICS The Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics Program is a cohesive, integrated program with a longstanding focus on drug development at all phases of clinical testing.

The program fosters interaction between basic, translational and clinical scientists for the development of innovative and effective therapies, including image-based approaches.

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that is difficult to treat and usually recurs. The standard regimen allows many patients to experience long periods where it is under control but, often, the cancer returns. Andrzej Jakubowiak, MD, PhD, director of the myeloma program, has been a leader in the development of the KRd regimen, a standard of care for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma. KRd is a drug cocktail made up of drugs called carfilzomib, lenalidomide and dexamethasone.

This combination controls cancer for a longer time compared to previous therapies, but further improvements are needed. Jakubowiak and collaborators, including Benjamin Derman, MD, assistant professor of medicine, are evaluating ways to improve the effectiveness of this treatment. In a recent phase II multicenter clinical trial, together with Jagoda Jasielec, MD, formerly an assistant professor of medicine, they found that the addition of an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) to the KRd regimen resulted in prolonged disease control while still being tolerable for patients.

These potentially practice-changing results suggest that incorporating ASCT to extended KRd can improve clinical outcomes.

JASIELEC ET AL., BLOOD 136(22):2513-23, 2020

4

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

5-Hydroxymethylcytosine profiles in circulating cell-free DNA associate with disease burden in children with neuroblastoma 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) is an epigenetic marker of open chromatin and active gene expression. Mark Applebaum, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics, and Comprehensive Cancer Center collaborators, including Chuan He, PhD, John T. Wilson Distinguished Service Professor of Chemistry, applied Nano-hmC-Seal technology to profile 5-hmC using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in blood samples from patients with neuroblastoma to determine its utility as a biomarker.

Hierarchical clustering of the DNA samples from the patients defined four clusters corresponding to high, high-moderate, moderate and low/ no metastatic burden. Samples from patients with increased metastatic burden had different 5-hmC profiles compared to patients with subsequent relapse or low to no metastatic burden. Thus, cfDNA 5-hmC profiles in children with neuroblastoma correlate with metastatic burden and warrant development as a biomarker of treatment response and outcome. The group is currently testing the ability of these profiles to monitor treatment response in a prospective clinical trial.

APPLEBAUM ET AL., CLIN CAN RES 26:1309, 2020

Medical specimens

Discovery of a protein-protein interaction in the nucleus that regulates the cell cycle, genetic stability and carcinogenesis Cancer is a disease of unregulated cell division and genetic instability.

A complete understanding of the cell cycle of genetic replication and cell division is critical for finding new approaches to block carcinogenesis, the development of cancer.

Bakhtiar Yamini, MD, professor of surgery, and Comprehensive Cancer Center colleagues, published a groundbreaking report of previously unknown protein-protein interactions in the nucleus that regulate genome integrity and progression of the cell cycle. They found that a protein called p50 interacts with another protein called BARD1.

They discovered that BARD1 is able to modify and stabilize p50. The BARD1-p50 interaction allows p50 to regulate the process of genetic replication and control the forward movement of the cell cycle to inhibit damage to the DNA. This exciting discovery divulges a new role for p50 that was previously unknown and shows that p50 is a vital tumor suppressor and potential therapeutic target.

WU ET AL., NAT COMMUN 11,5007, 2020

CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL The overall goals of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program are to harness the intellectual capacity at UChicago to determine the environmental, genetic, psychological, biobehavioral and economic factors underlying the etiology, risk, prevention, diagnosis, prognosis and survivorship of cancer. In addition, expertise in advanced imaging techniques allows for innovative cancer risk assessment, early detection/ screening and survivorship research.

Mortality and chronic health conditions are increased in long-term survivors of early-adolescent and young adult cancers In a study published in 2020, Tara Henderson, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, and colleagues examined long-term outcomes of survivors of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancers, an understudied group with respect to cancer outcomes. This study compared the mortality and chronic health conditions of a large cohort of survivors of AYA cancer to childhood cancer survivors and to the general population. Their results reveal a significantly elevated premature mortality rate in the AYA population to the age- and sexmatched general population. They also uncovered significantly elevated rates of subsequent malignancies across all ages in the AYA population. This large cohort study

provides insight into the long-term health risks faced by these young patients, even after recovering from their initial cancer. The results point to the need for lifelong risk-based healthcare and cancer screening for young cancer survivors.

SUH ET AL., LANCET ONC 21:421-35, 2020

The mapping of telomere length across human tissues may provide insights in relation to cancer risk Telomere length is a biomarker in human diseases related to aging, such as cancer. New research from the lab of Brandon Pierce, PhD, associate professor of public health sciences and human genetics, examined telomere length in over 20 different tissue types to determine the relationship between telomere length, tissue type and other factors such as age and ancestry.

This study utilized samples from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project, a public repository of data from hundreds of tissue samples.

They used novel sequencing methods to analyze over 20 tissue types from almost 1,000 individuals and found statistically significant differences in telomere length between tissue types. This study provided invaluable knowledge of telomere length in normal tissues, which can guide researchers in interpreting how telomere length relates to risk of age-associated diseases such as cancer.

DEMANELIS ET AL., SCIENCE 369(6509):EAAZ6876, 2020

5

Patient Care

OUR RESPONSE TO T H E C O V I D - 1 9 PA N D E M I C For much of 2020, the constant threat of coronavirus changed the way we cared for our cancer patients, conducted cancer research and engaged with the community.

Our expert scientists and physicians responded quickly and compassionately to address the public health crisis. Some collaborated with investigators across disciplines to research potential vaccines. Others initiated clinical trials to test new COVID-19 treatments. And some helped cancer patients affected by the COVID-19 crisis by seeing them virtually, providing masks or delivering food and disinfectant supplies to their homes.

Cancer patients are vulnerable to COVID-19 not only because of their disease and treatment, but because of all the physician/clinic visits they are expected to have outside of their home. To keep our patients safe from contracting COVID-19, we rapidly adapted to the changing situation by putting specific infection prevention protocols in place, including telehealth visits, curbside lab testing and mobile blood draws. Entry of new patients onto clinical trials was temporarily paused.

6

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

As for oncology services, overseen

by Sonali M. Smith, MD, then interim Section Chief of Hematology and Oncology, and Mitchell Posner, MD, Chief of Surgical Oncology and Physician-in-Chief of the UChicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, delayable surgeries and treatments were postponed.

On the research front, the spread of COVID-19 challenged physicians and scientists across the globe to come together and use their expertise to tackle the pandemic. Our basic and translational researchers stepped in to unravel the mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 pathology.

Each decision was made on a caseby-case basis and in consideration of the most appropriate course for the patient. Nurses, doctors and other members of cancer care teams reached out to patients to reschedule appointments and treatment or provide instructions for those who still needed in-person care.

They were also on hand to answer questions and concerns patients had about navigating the pandemic.

Cancer clinicians’ understanding of the immune response has placed them in a unique position to steer lifesaving clinical trials for COVID-19 patients. For example, Patrick Wilson, PhD, professor of medicine, analyzed blood samples from recovering patients to discover which antibodies may be effective against the virus. This work offered clues to either treat patients with the effective antibodies directly or use them to develop vaccines and determine if people have immunity to the virus, which is important for modeling community spread.

Additionally, technologies such as computer-aided imaging have proven to be useful tools for COVID19 research. Maryellen Giger, PhD, A.N. Pritzker Professor of Radiology, spearheaded the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to detect, diagnose and guide treatment for COVID-19.

The medical center managed a drive-up clinic and walk-in center for COVID-19 testing.

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

Left: During the public health crisis created by COVID-19, patients were able to connect with their physicians virtually for some appointments. Below: An illustration of the coronavirus.

“ Over the decades, my lab has been investigating and developing AI for cancer images with the goal of improving the detection, diagnosis and assessment of response to therapy,” Giger said. “We are now applying that knowledge as we develop AI methods to help interpret lung images of COVID-19.”

Giger, joined by Samuel Armato, PhD, associate professor of radiology and chair of the committee on medical physics, and other colleagues from UChicago and Argonne National Laboratory analyzed X-rays and CT scans from COVID-19 patients to characterize the stage of infection and guide treatment decisions.

The Medical Imaging and Data Resource Center (MIDRC) will be an open source database with medical images from thousands of COVID-19 patients.

“Through the MIDRC Data Commons Portal, investigators will be able to access images and data to expedite research that will provide solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Giger said.

“This will speed up the sharing of new research on COVID-19, answering questions about COVID-19 presentation in the lungs, the efficacy of therapies, associations between COVID-19 and other co-morbidities and monitoring for potential resurgence of the virus.”

“ Through the MIDRC Data Commons Portal, investiga­ tors will be able to access images and data to expedite research that will provide solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

MARYELLEN GIGER, PHD, A.N. PRITZKER PROFESSOR OF RADIOLOGY

Based on this work, Giger received a major federal contract to host a new COVID-19 medical imaging resource center at the University of Chicago.

7

Patient Care

PERSONALIZED THERAPIES FOR H A R D -TO -T R E AT CANCERS In 2020, a $10 million gift established the David and Etta Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy at UChicago Medicine, named for David Jonas and his late wife, Etta.

The center unites a team of experts dedicated to improving cellular therapy, especially T-cell treatments like CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cell therapy, an emerging form of cancer treatment. CAR T-cell therapy works by supercharging patients’ white blood cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

Although this therapy has, in some cases, led to complete remission, it is not always successful and is currently limited to treating certain blood cancers.

Through the new center, researchers at UChicago Medicine will work to overcome these challenges and realize the full potential of cellular therapy.

Over $33M donated, including $10M for the Jonas Center for Cellular Therapy, $500,000 for the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons and $10M for cancer immunotherapy research. cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. It also has the potential to treat other cancer types— beyond blood cancers—including hard-to-treat solid tumors, like pancreatic and ovarian cancers.

With new investments in infrastructure and expertise, the Jonas Center will accelerate this research effort and develop this therapy for clinical trials for patients with metastatic solid tumors through a collaboration with Michael Bishop, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Cellular Therapy Program, and Amittha Wickrema, PhD, professor of medicine.

“I was impressed by UChicago Medicine’s multidisciplinary research program and commitment to attaining tangible outcomes that will really serve cancer patients,” Jonas said. “They have all the key elements for a successful research program: experience in clinical trials, access to the most leading-edge technology, a tremendous track record in attracting scientific talent and a strong team to lead the program.”

Hans Schreiber, MD, PhD, professor of pathology, has developed a new method for personalized T-cell therapy. By characterizing a patient’s T-cell receptors, he is able to engineer a customized therapy that accurately targets the tumor’s unique antigens.

This highly personalized approach to T-cell therapy can safely target

CAR T-cell therapy works by supercharging patients’ white blood cells to seek out and destroy cancer cells.

8

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

LARGEST COLLECTION O F P E D I AT R I C C A N C E R DATA PAV E S WAY F O R MORE EFFECTIVE T R E AT M E N T S Tracey and Ray Scheppach of Northfield, Illinois, donated $500,000 to the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital and the Pediatric Cancer Data Commons (PCDC) to help build a data commons specifically for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. In the United States, about 3,000 children will have been diagnosed with ALL in 2020, according to the American Cancer Society.

Led by Sam Volchenboum, MD, PhD, a pediatric oncologist at Comer Children’s and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Chicago, the PCDC is an international collaboration of leading pediatric cancer researchers who are pooling childhood cancer patients’ data together using uniform data standards and rules for data collection. This standardization allows cancer researchers worldwide to access a greater volume of data to drive discovery and advance treatment.

$33M CONVENIENT A C C E S S TO WO R L D - C L ASS CANCER EXPERTISE

THE QUEST TO E X T E N D I M M U N OT H E R A P Y ’ S B E N E F I T S TO M O R E PAT I E N T S Keith and Susan Hoogland, owners of the video rental chain Family Video, have pledged $5 million toward accelerating cancer immunotherapy research at UChicago Medicine so more patients can benefit from the life-saving therapies.

The gift will help Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, AbbVie Foundation Professor of Cancer Immunotherapy, learn why immunotherapies fail in some people. His research aims to identify, understand and overcome the defenses that cancers use to escape or withstand immune attack.

“Philanthropy fills in the gaps,” Gajewski said. “It allows researchers to take risks and tackle the big ideas. Keith and Susan’s generosity will have a profound impact on our understanding of immunotherapy response and ability to develop treatments that help the most patients.”

E X PA N D E D A C C E S S TO B R E A S T H E A LT H S E R V I C E S UChicago Medicine, in partnership with Solis Mammography, opened two new breast health centers within UChicago Medicine’s Orland Park and River East outpatient locations.

The new centers use up-to-theminute breast health practices and technologies to provide exceptional care in a spa-like environment designed for patient care, convenience and comfort.

“Adding Solis Mammography’s services to our River East and Orland Park locations continues our health system’s efforts to bring important services closer to where our patients live and work,” said Hiroyuki Abe, MD, PhD, professor of radiology and chief of breast imaging at UChicago Medicine. “Now more than ever, it’s important people feel safe when they go to a medical appointment so they can continue to get important screenings and other preventative care.”

Getting a cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event. Suddenly there are many decisions for patients to make, and perhaps they or their loved one may not know what questions to ask. Our physicians understand this urgency and the need for answers about care options. In 2020, UChicago Medicine debuted the Express Expert Cancer Opinion (EECO) program. Through the unique program, any newly diagnosed patient can access a free, 15-minute video visit with one of our cancer experts. EECO makes it convenient for patients to establish a relationship with a physician and get helpful information from the comfort and privacy of their homes.

UCHICAGOMEDICINE.ORG/EECO

“ I was impressed by UChicago Medicine’s multidisciplinary research program and commitment to attaining tangible outcomes that will really serve cancer patients.”

DAVID JONAS 9

Cancer Research Education

R E M OT E R E S E A R C H EXPERIENCES Faced with the impossibility of oncampus programming, our Cancer Education Team adapted quickly to protect access to intellectual, social and financial support for trainees eager to advance their careers in cancer research. The successful launch of remote research experiences and online skill-building and career development activities is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of our students and mentors. These efforts have also inspired plans to extend online enrichment opportunities to program alumni, partner schools and other priority groups as a permanent component of our cancer education strategy.

EYES first-year Iyana Gross tunes in to support her peers during the virtual EYES summer research symposium.

10

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Our trainees did not want to put their education on hold because of COVID. The resilience of our cancer research training programs meant they did not have to.

Chicago EYES (Educators and Youth Enjoy Science) on Cancer welcomed 23 high school and undergraduate students and five high school science teachers to the first-ever online version of the program. Participants engaged in mentored research projects, robust skill-building workshops and social events, all from the safety of their homes. The activities were associated with gains in students’ scientific knowledge, research-related career ambitions and sense of support and belonging within the scientific community. Notably, EYES was one of only a handful of National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center summer programs to offer a virtual experience. The program is directed

by M. Eileen Dolan, PhD, Associate Director for Education for the Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Up on Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) launched in December 2020 and is providing research training and career development opportunities to four Chicago-area undergraduates pursuing careers in the environmental health sciences. The program aims to enhance diversity within the biomedical, behavioral and clinical research workforce. It is directed

by Brisa Aschebrook-Kilfoy, PhD, and Habibul Ahsan, MD.

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

The UChicago Breast Cancer Disparities Training Program facilitated experiences in cancer research, clinical care, policy and outreach for a new cohort of six graduate and postdoctoral trainees.

Fellows presented their research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 2nd Annual Health Equity and Cancer Disparities Symposium, “Driving Cancer Health Equity through Advances in the Science of Disparities.” The program is directed by M. Eileen Dolan, PhD, Associate Director for Education.

The Scholars in OncologyAssociated Research (SOAR) program delivered its first spring seminar series as an official Pritzker School of Medicine firstyear elective, orienting 17 medical students to an interdisciplinary and interprofessional perspective on cancer research and care. Fourteen medical students participated in the SOAR virtual summer research program, which is designed to foster the skills and motivation for continued progress toward a career in cancer research. SOAR is directed by faculty members Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD, Vineet Arora, MD, Daniel Golden, MD, and Olwen Hahn, MD.

“ Many students do not have the adequate resources or experiences to help them navigate a career in research.

Experiences like these help students expand their community, resources, mentors and experience.”

CESAR MENDOZA DEPAUL UNIVERSITY '22, BIOCHEMISTRY, EYES FIRST-YEAR TRAINEE

11

Community Outreach and Engagement

INCREASING CANCER AWA R E N E S S A N D PREVENTION AMONG E M P L OY E E S UChicago Medicine is one of the largest employers on the South Side, with nearly 10,000 employees, many of whom are local residents who may be at risk for complex health problems, such as heart disease and cancer. In order to empower employees to care for their own health, UChicago Medicine Employee Benefits & Wellness and OCECHE have teamed up to deliver educational programming around cancer.

National statistics show that some racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups suffer higher rates of cancer incidence and mortality than others. In Chicago, the disparities are worse. Community outreach and engagement (COE) is central to our mission to reduce cancer’s burden on Chicago’s diverse population and promote health equity. Karen Kim, MD, MS, Associate Director for COE and Nita Lee, MD, MPH, Assistant Director for COE, lead the COE efforts. Our Office of Community Engagement and Cancer Health Equity (OCECHE), directed by Gina Curry, MPH, MBA, works side by side with community partners and organizations to bring advances in cancer research directly to underserved neighborhoods and ensure that our research is informed by the cancer-related needs and disparities in the five-county catchment area the Cancer Center serves.

This involved building on OCECHE’s HealthyU Employee Engagement Initiative, which aims to increase employees’ knowledge about cancer and encourage them to get routine cancer screening. At events held virtually throughout the year, our faculty experts in breast, lung, prostate, colorectal and gynecologic cancer spoke on topics ranging from genetic risk assessment to the latest advances in cancer screening and prevention. Employees also had the opportunity to sign up for screening appointments or fill out a digital pledge card.

A SUMMIT UNITES S U RV I VO R S A N D R E S E A R C H E R S TO A D D R E SS WO M E N ’ S CANCERS Engaging patients in the research continuum is an important goal.

Gynecologic cancer survivors and researchers had the opportunity to learn from one another at the first city-wide Gynecologic Cancer Survivor-Researcher Summit at UChicago Medicine. The OCECHE, in coordination with Black Health Matters and the Cancer Trainee Advocate Program, brought together gynecologic cancer survivors, patients, caregivers, policy advocates, investigators, clinicians, patient navigators and clinical and research trainees for bi-directional conversations on the latest research being conducted across Chicago academic institutions on gynecologic cancers. In addition, patient advocates shared their stories and ways in which patient experiences can inform research methodologies.

This dialogue and relationships that were built at this event serve as a foundation for future communityengaged research addressing the community’s gynecological cancer needs and opportunities for intervention. Cancer center

A “pap rally” held in January 2020 encouraged UChicago Medicine employees to learn about cervical cancer and sign up for screening.

12

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

10K

T H E COV I D -1 9 PA N D E M I C C A U S E S COMMUNITY O R G A N I Z AT I O N S TO SHIFT THEIR FOCUS

Gynecologic cancer survivors and researchers had the opportunity to learn from one another at the first Gynecologic Cancer Survivor-Researcher Summit at UChicago Medicine.

faculty, including Nita Lee, MD, MPH, S. Diane Yamada, MD, and Katherine Kurnit, MD, MPH, helped to lead the event.

The success of this summit inspired the creation of a pilot program for linking the Comprehensive Cancer Center’s researchers and community members. OCECHE’s CORE (Community Outreach Research Engagement) model will provide training to University of Chicago cancer researchers and cancer-focused community partners to integrate community input into basic and translational science.

Development of the CORE model is funded by a new Community Outreach and Engagement supplement to our National Cancer Institute-funded Cancer Center Support Grant, and we are excited to implement this new program in 2021.

COVID-19 spread rapidly throughout the city; however, those at greatest risk of getting sick and dying from the virus were racial and ethnic minority groups. For a population already burdened with some of the worst cancer disparities in the nation, COVID-19 was especially devastating. With social distancing measures and shelter-in-place orders in effect, as well as the disruption to the healthcare system and economy, underserved populations were left even more vulnerable than usual. In response, the OCECHE team sprang into action and met with their community advisory board, comprising community-based organizations and federally qualified health centers, to learn about the most critical questions and concerns that residents had. They then developed creative strategies to reach cancer patients and their families with the appropriate resources and support.

People employed by the University of Chicago Medicine on the South Side of Chicago ADDRESSING THE D I G I TA L D I V I D E The lockdown made it difficult for people without technology and internet service to remain connected. With most interactions taking place in a virtual environment, some people, such as low-income cancer patients, may have been missing out on vital information. To address the “digital divide,” OCECHE coordinated with community partners to supply patients with devices to participate in telemedicine and other online support resources.

One of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation Board of Trustees members was able to secure a donation of new laptops and other technological accessories that has helped fill this void.

COVID-19 spread rapidly throughout the city; however, those at greatest risk of getting sick and dying from the virus were racial and ethnic minority groups.

13

Community Outreach and Engagement

P R OV I D I N G CRITICAL CANCER I N F O R M AT I O N V I R T U A L LY During the pandemic, it was more important than ever for community residents to have a reliable source for information about COVID-19’s impact on their lives. Consequently, OCECHE started a series of facultyled webinar presentations and discussions for cancer patients, survivors and caregivers, offering suggestions for staying safe and coping with the additional stress of dealing with cancer during a pandemic.

In addition, cancer centers across Chicago came together to share knowledge and foster solutionoriented discussion around the challenges created by coronavirus. The Chicago Academic Cancer Center Community Engagement Collaborative, spearheaded by OCECHE in partnership with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University and the University of Illinois-Chicago Cancer Center, hosted a four-part, multiinstitutional webinar series addressing different community-related issues around COVID-19. OCECHE’s Faculty Director Nita Lee, MD, MPH, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, joined physician experts from partner universities and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network as presenters for this series.

14

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

A Center of Food Equity in Medicine volunteer loads a car in preparation for no-contact grocery delivery to immunocompromised cancer patients in need of nutritional support.

R E AC H I N G C A N C E R PAT I E N T S I N N E E D In-person contact was nearly impossible, but OCECHE found ways to ensure residents had what they needed to stay safe and healthy. This included protection from COVID-19, which was especially important for immunocompromised patients recovering from or being treated for cancer.

In the beginning of the pandemic, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as face masks and disinfectants were in short supply.

Our team rounded up donated PPE and ensured that cancer patients received them through pop-up and drive-through events hosted by community-based organizations.

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

Another barrier for some was a lack of easy access to nutritious foods, which can make recovering from health problems even more challenging. OCECHE worked with community partners and donors to address food insecurity by making no-contact grocery deliveries to cancer patients’ homes during the shelter-in-place order.

Our Team

In 2020, we welcomed the following new members to help strengthen our research team:

NEW FULL MEMBERS Huanhuan (Joyce) Chen, PharmD, PhD, assistant professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

Benjamin Derman, MD, assistant professor of medicine

Yuxuan (Phoenix) Miao, PhD, assistant professor in the Ben May Department for Cancer Research

Jing Chen, PhD, Janet Davison Rowley Professor in Cancer Research

Jeffrey Hubbell, PhD, Eugene Bell Professor of Tissue Engineering in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

Mei-Yin Polley, PhD, associate professor of public health sciences

Jueqi Chen, PhD, assistant professor of microbiology

Mark Levin, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry

Jordan Slagowski, PhD, assistant professor of radiation oncology

Aditya Juloori, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology

Samantha Riesenfeld, PhD, assistant professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering

Weixin Tang, PhD, assistant professor of chemistry

N E W A S S O C I AT E M E M B E R S

15

Our Team

AWA R D S & H O N O R S The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has elected Everett Vokes, MD, Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago Medicine, to serve as its president for the 2021-22 term and Tara Henderson, MD, MPH, professor of pediatrics, to serve as the designated pediatric oncologist on its Board of Directors for the 2020-24 term. ASCO also named Henderson as an Advocacy Champion during the 2020 Advocacy Summit.

16

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

The best cancer research is driven by the best minds. Our physicians and scientists are leaders on the world stage. Their scientific accomplishments and professional accolades reflect their passion and commitment to improving cancer care through innovative discoveries. In 2020, many of our members were recognized with some of the top awards and honors for their expertise in cancer research.

Marisa Alegre, MD, PhD, professor of medicine, and Thomas Gajewski, MD, PhD, AbbVie Foundation Pro-­ fessor of Cancer Immunotherapy, have been elected to the Associa­ tion of American Physicians (AAP).

The AAP is an honorific, elected society of America’s leading physician-scientists who exemplify the pinnacle of impactful contributions to improve health.

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

Ray Moellering, PhD, associate professor of chemistry, was among the UChicago scientists to earn a prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship, which recognizes early-career scientists’ potential to make substantial contributions to their fields.

Rita Nanda, MD, associate professor of medicine and director of the breast oncology program, was invited by the Society of Immunotherapy in Cancer (SITC) to serve as a member of the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Guidelines Breast Cancer Expert Panel.

Daria Esterhazy, PhD, assistant professor of pathology, was selected as a Pew Scholar of the Biomedical Sciences class of 2020 by the Pew Charitable Trust.

Our director Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD, Arthur and Marian Edelstein Professor of Medicine, received the 2020 AACR-Margaret Foti Award for Leadership and Extraordinary Achievements in Cancer Research by the American Association for Cancer Research.

Le Beau also received the 2020 Henry M. Stratton Medal from the American Society of Hematology for her contributions to basic research in leukemia.

The American Society of Hema­ tology selected Wendy Stock, MD, Anjuli Seth Nayak Professor in Leu­ kemia, for the 2020 ASH Mentor Award for her contributions to the professional development of numerous hematology trainees at various stages in their careers.

Olufunmilayo Olopade, MD, Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine and Human Genetics and director of the Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics and Global Health, was named to the 2020 list of Giants of Cancer Care by OncLive.

Stanley Liauw, MD, professor of radiation and cellular oncology, was named a fellow of the Ameri­can Society for Therapeutic Radiation Oncology.

Julian Solway, MD, the Walter L. Palmer Distinguished Service Professor for Medicine and Pedi­atrics, Dean for Translational Medicine and Vice Chair for Research, received the 2020 American Thoracic Society’s Recognition Award for Scientific Accomplishment.

Melody Swartz, PhD, the William B. Ogden Professor of Molecular Engineering at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine—one of the highest honors in the field—for “pioneering contributions” to the fields of lymphatic physiology, cancer research and immunotherapy.

17

Reflections on 2020

What do the words “purpose, passion and persistence” mean to you and how did they apply to 2020?

Cancer leaders at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) share what has been on their minds during 2020.

“ I feel as though without ‘purpose, passion and persistence,’ the cancer research community would have felt despair this past year. As scientists, our joy (and ideas) come from interactions with one another, sharing results and ideas at meetings and in informal settings.

The fact that tremendous progress has been made while we have been working in our slippers and physically isolated from each other means that working toward the greater good with purpose, passion and persistence can overcome many challenges.”

“ To me, the word ‘purpose’ means to ‘CARRY ON!’ as much as possible, try to maintain clinical life and connections with patients and colleagues. Persistence and resilience are characteristics that I have valued, admired and tried to emulate using my patients as examples.”

—WENDY STOCK, MD

—M. EILEEN DOLAN, PHD “ With purpose and passion, I will persist in pursuing my goal of optimizing oncology drug dosing, both to eliminate unnecessary toxicities and to reduce costs.”

—MARK J. RATAIN, MD

18

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

“ The three words ‘purpose, passion and persistence’ perfectly capture how I feel and address my research and clinical work in pediatric and adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer. My purpose each day is to ensure we cure every child, adolescent and young adult with cancer and cure them well, while also ensuring our survivors are healthy and thriving throughout the rest of their lives. I am passionate about my research and seeing its impact in the clinic. I may be described by many as persistent.

More than ever, the 2020 global pandemic has required our persistence even further, to overcome barriers and be more creative in our pursuit of caring for childhood and AYA cancer patients and survivors. I feel so fortunate that my purpose and passion have given me strength and joy throughout this difficult year.”

—TARA HENDERSON, MD, MPH

“ It is critical to never forget the true purpose of our calling, which is to cure cancer and alleviate the suffering it causes patients and their families. Reminding oneself about one’s true purpose can combat fatigue, despair and darkness.

It allows the oncologist to break down a formidable problem into simple solvable ones.”

—KIRAN TURAGA, MD, MPH

“ By now the word ‘unprecedented’ to describe 2020 has become cliché and almost mundane, but the response of the UCCCC staff and faculty is not. While many individuals have become almost paralyzed by the overwhelming circustances, the UCCCC commitment to its purpose, the passion for making a difference in the lives of patients and on oncologic science, and the persistence to continue is humbling to me. We have rapidly pivoted to a virtual platform for patient visits as well as for the consenting and monitoring of our clinical trials; have altered care pathways to incorporate management of the increased risks the pandemic represents for our patients; have shared our expertise to bring it to bear on COVID-19 treatment and translational research; have modified our laboratories so that important research can continue despite the need for social distancing; and most importantly, have been a beacon of hope for each other and our patients. It is an honor to be associated with such colleagues.”

—WALTER STADLER, MD

19

Reflections on 2020

What lessons have you learned over the course of 2020?

“ The lessons that I’ve learned from my patients about how to live as fully as possible given significant restrictions in terms of travel and physical contact have been so important during this COVID pandemic.”

“ One of the great lessons I learned is that we can still impact trainees remotely. In the summer, we had to pivot our pathway programs for high school students/teachers and undergraduates from underserved populations to remote. I wondered whether this would allow me the chance to get to know the trainees.

Communicating through Zoom, Microsoft Teams, email and text, I realized their resilience and drive and, of course, their awesome personalities. There were times when I was doubled over laughing and other times I was moved to tears by their profound insight. Physical distance did not take away the opportunity to build community and learn from one another.”

—M. EILEEN DOLAN, PHD

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

—SONALI SMITH, MD

“ Over 2020, I have learned that in the care of patients and our desperate need to maintain health, there is a corps of people that are resilient and strong-willed and who are willing to make personal sacrifices to rise to the challenge.”

—KIRAN TURAGA, MD, MPH

—WENDY STOCK, MD

20

“ Despite all of the tumultuous times, the aspect that shines through for me personally is our collective resilience. We are still here, there is still good news to share, and we are ready to keep working to make impact in our fields and in society.”

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

Looking ahead, what will be the most pressing issues for cancer research in the coming years?

“ It is unclear how patients and payers will be able to afford modern cancer drugs, guided by competent physicians, in the context of rapidly rising hospital costs. There is little point in pursuing new advances until we have a strategy to address the emerging cost crisis, which will lead to one of the following scenarios: 1) unacceptably high healthcare costs to employers, 2) stringent government regulation and nego­ tiation of drug prices, and/or 3) marked reduction in payments to physicians and hospitals.”

“ The challenges we face ahead for cancer research will include making sense of large amounts of data to be able to provide personalized care for each patient in an equitable way.”

—KIRAN TURAGA, MD, MPH

—MARK J. RATAIN, MD

“ The most pressing issue will be the impact of COVID-19 and structural racism on cancer health disparities. 2020 brought these problems to the forefront and going forward we will need to address them.”

—M. EILEEN DOLAN, PHD

21

Credits

SENIOR LEADERSHIP

S TA F F L E A D E R S H I P

CREDITS

Director Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD

Director for Community Outreach and Engagement Gina Curry, MPH, MBA

Editor Jane Kollmer

Deputy Director Walter Stadler, MD Associate Director for Population Research Habibul Ahsan, MD, MMedSc Associate Director for Education M. Eileen Dolan, PhD Associate Director for Basic Sciences Geoffrey Greene, PhD Associate Director for Community Outreach and Engagement Karen Kim, MD Associate Director for Administration Kathleen H. Goss, PhD

Director for Informatics and Information Technology Rajan Gopalakrishnan, MS

Director for Clinical Research Operations and Technical Director Amanda Spratt, BS, CCRP

Contributors Jamie Bartosch Alison Caldwell, PhD Kate Dohner Liz Edwards Shana Liberman Tiha M. Long, PhD Gretchen Rubin Annette Westerberg Molly Woulfe

Director for Communications Jane Kollmer

Design Pivot Design, Inc.

Senior Science Writer and Director for Strategic Partnerships Tiha M. Long, PhD Director for Finance Robyn Egan

Printing G Thomas Partners LLC

Associate Director for Clinical Sciences Mark J. Ratain, MD Physician-in-Chief Mitchell Posner, MD Executive Committee Members Susan Cohn, MD John Cunningham, MD Ralph Weichselbaum, MD Tara Henderson, MD, MPH

22

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

Editorial Advisors Michelle M. Le Beau, PhD Kathleen H. Goss, PhD

Purpose, Passion & Persistence

Our mission is three-fold: discover what leads to cancer, develop new treatments against it and find ways to prevent cancer. To achieve our mission, we collaborate on the latest research, provide compassionate care to our patients, train the next generation of cancer researchers and bring advances in cancer to the surrounding community.

LEARN MORE UChicagoMedicine.org/Cancer Request an Appointment: 1-855-702-8222 Refer a Patient: 1-800-824-2282 Make a Gift: 773-702-6565

@UCCancerCenter Follow us for news, events and the latest discoveries.

U C H I C AG O M E D I C I N E .O R G /C A N C E R 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 1140-H212 Chicago, IL 60637-1470 © 2021 The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center.

All rights reserved.